PEARL and MaXXXine: Not Everyone Can Be a Star

[@trinaq]

Mia Goth is the new Scream Queen of her generation. She's really chilling as both Pearl and Maxine, even through her facial expressions.

[@eyeromnium]

such an icon!!

[@lilij1915]

The new Jamie Lee Curtis

[@chaosspy6723]

not with her scandals

[@nefatariwilliams2768]

I agree but i liked her more as Maxine than pearl because pearl was so far gone to the point of no return but i did feel bad for pearl and what she was dealing with.

[@BlueB-bx6nh]

Pearl was so goooooooooooooood 😋 😋

[@crystalfelicia9924]

Pearl genuinely wanted to be a dancer but somehow felt like she could not cuz she was bound by a duty towards her family. The circumstances Pearl was in created in her an instability; she could not escape from it. Tho if she wasn't unstable and conditioned to believe she couldn't leave she actually would have been able to leave. Pearl wanted that genuinely but clearly struggled w her mental health which is often times triggered by circumstances as well!

[@jonathanmulondo9206]

Her mother made everything even worse.

[@WiinterKitten]

I disagree, she GENUINELY wanted a life off the farm and away from her family. She just thought a career in showbiz would be an easier way out.

[@crystalfelicia9924]

@@WiinterKitten No she didn't think it was an easier way out. If u saw X, you'd also see that those dreams remained w Pearl well into old age. It haunted her, but remember her mental instability was a factor in her not realizing all she had to do was, pack a suitcase and leave!

[@arbyswitch5580]

No, she didn't get out of her situation because she couldn't cut it, did we watch the same movie...she was a bad dancer as well as delusional as fuck for real. It's one thing to watch the girlies in a chorus line and think "I want to be able to do that" and it's another thing to go out for an audition to join a chorus line, bomb the audition and then absolutely refuse to take your rejection with grace. She (as an old woman) envies Maxine because Maxine has what she doesn't - the X factor. Star power and innate talent. Plus you know, wealth and supportive (perhaps even controlling but in a "you will be my little dancing dolly" way, not a "we are German farmers, Pearl. We're trying to bootstrap here, Pearl, its you and me who are capable of doing the labor, your father is an invalid, Pearl" way) parents.

[@emin5488]

I heard Mia Goth was involved in the writing and the making of Pearl and that it was her idea. I don't know if it's right but if so it ads to her aura and talent. She is a STAR indeed.

[@laurelgardner]

She wrote her final monologue, I do know that.

[@Sun.Shine-]

Mia Goth is a star, her presence is an instant promotion for the movies she's in!

[@perrip2355]

I’M A STARRRRR

[@BlueB-bx6nh]

Girl was made for horror movies ❤

[@wynngwynn]

she's a horrible person IRL sadly

[@7daysloveu]

@@wynngwynnwhat did she do again?

[@txwtw]

@@7daysloveu she (allegedly) kicked an extra on set, none of us know if it’s true or not as Mia hasn’t responded to the allegation yet

[@xoxnataiie]

i think while pearls fate was worse, maxxxine will probably struggle with her avoidance her whole life and always feel alone and disconnected. wish we saw what happened to her after the movie

[@VDirn]

She literally worked everyday,she Is never seen enjoying time with friends or at parties or else. i personally think this is admirable,but also very sad :( She Is young,She Is beautiful,She has to enjoy her youth :(

[@Miscellaneous_master]

She’s probably OD on her dr*gs too

[@Unique2U05]

Yeah at the end she kinda had a blank stare when she said she doesn't want it to never end. I wonder if they'll do a movie in the present time (40 years later in 2025) and show what Maxxxine has ben up to since becoming a break out star. Some young Hollywood actors crash and burn just before their careers really take off.

I have to admit I waited for your video on Pearl and Maxine as you do women unhinged. I love your take on Maxxxine despite it being my favourite one in the trilogy. I felt the story very personally, and the themes explored were enough for me, it formed a coherent story. Surviving in a dark place with cruel people, striving towards a goal, being haunted by your past, I felt so bad for the girl haha. Maxine was a breath of fresh air in the horror genre because she is so hardcore, she's completely rational and hardworking. She never feels bad for herself. I think we all wish we could be more selfish when it comes to how we want to live life, so many of us sacrifice ourselves for people, we tolerate, we forgive, we become passive. It gives us a sense of power when she kills someone who wants her harmed, it translates as getting rid of anything that holds you back in life. And to make it even deeper, we can see her being scared, anxious and conquering her fears in the end. (crossing my fingers you do a video on mia like you did with kirsten !)

[@antiheroines-you-love]

I was waiting for the entire trilogy to be released to see how the story and characters would be tied together ...I can see why people are passionate about it, but I felt disconnected from it tbh. I was thinking of making a video on Mia Goth separately, maybe I will

[@rafaelrusydi710]

@@antiheroines-you-loveomg yess a mia goth video would be great how she started out , her first movie role, her marriage to shia

[@elo93ed]

Maxine is a very inspirational character to me tbh

[@lauraanne5175]

What a wonderful video to watch with my lazy Sunday morning tea. THANK YOU X

[@bachira4eva_016]

also a wonderful video to end my night with. happy viewing from the other side of the world!

[@lauraanne5175]

@@bachira4eva_016

[@jadejohnson7740]

Finally! I've been waiting for some more in depth analysis of these films

[@antiheroines-you-love]

I don't think I went too deep in this one... there are many videos on Pearl though already on YT

[@zombieloveserte]

Mia Goth is absolutely mesmerizing as an actress.

[@mayln163]

The music choice for MaXXXine was so good

[@Outlawgirl1297]

It’s a good movie

[@chandonkey-kong9744]

i absolutely love every single video on your channel you're fucking fantastic

[@Bubaiel]

I thought this was me for a second 😭

[@hidansektas]

am i the only one who got the impression that pearl is developmentally delayed or mentally challanged?

[@dreamwithinadreamfilms]

No, she’s just your average isolated small town/rural/country girl.

[@pbj4142]

I thought the same thing too. I’m no professional though.

[@saragonzalezzatarain4920]

I didn’t like MaXXXine. I think it exist just for the sake of having a trilogy but is devoid of anything interesting and really shows the incoherences in character development. Both X and Pearl were passion projects that were developed at the same time, but MaXXXine feels like it was homework. In X action takes over character/story, and Pearl does the same but opposite, yet in third installment it feels like it has neither and all characters feel devoid of soul.

[@RED-my9hl]

Agreed, I expected more from the last movie, but it just felt so shallow, I was waiting for the movie to do something and then the credits came 😭

[@osmanyousif7849]

The the biggest problem for me, was how much it dropped the ball in the second half. The whole addition of the Night Stalker only for the reveal to occur renders the story meaningless. Honestly, a better movie would either see this being alternative timeline where Maxine hunts for the Night Stalker to avenge her friends, even attempting to save Molly Bennett. Basically a female version of Taxi Driver, but just like that movie, instead of being seen as some righteous vigilante, she's a blood thirsty psychopath, almost like Pearl was. The movie can either see her either confronting and/or killing the Night Stalker, only to see herself a bit in him. In fact, don't even show the Night Stalker, and leave it more ambiguous. OR... maybe the movie could've seen Maxine getting the roles she wanted but never can earn. And no amount of blonde hair and perky breasts will ever get her the fame she believes she'd be entitled to. This lead her to become unhinged and take desperate measures like Pearl does in the last movie. Maxine ends up murdering people so it can convince those to hired her, even her own friends/castmates, despite not doing anything to her to deserve it. Maybe have her be the person they suspect for the Night Stalker murders, and it's only a matter of time before she's either caught or killed. But no, instead we got a "plot twist" (which I never could understand how Maxine couldn't figure that it's probably her father) and religious extremist final battle with parent, except with nothing supernatural like Carrie. But considering how the cops do most of the action throughout the climax including wounding her father, despite Maxine making the final blow, it just doesn't have the same impact like X did. Honestly, another thing that should have happened is cutting the dad and PI character John out of the movie. Perhaps, maybe for a short cameo, like Maxine calling him or something, but maybe have him try searching for Maxine, but gave up, especially after she changed her number. Maxine tells him that this is on her, not him, and whatever will happen to her, she'd face the punishment herself.

[@saragonzalezzatarain4920]

@@osmanyousif7849 yeah, I actually thought the plot twist would’ve had something to do with Maxine being the Nightstalker, wether it was by revealing her as a murderer or with a more Jekyll and Hyde approach. It bugs me so much, because obviously the Nightstalker is only their to mislead the viewer, so it serves nothing to the plot and comes off as patronizing the audience by making them “fall for it”. Also the thing with her father is so random; I don’t think he fits the “lunatic cult murderer” type and is honestly nonsensical considering he proceeds the same way the satanist murderers do while claiming he’s against them and their actions. I think the movie could’ve explored a new different character played by Mia Goth and derivative from Maxine or Pearl, or try to touch more on religious trauma and Maxine’s path to fame.

[@RizztrainingOrder]

@20:27 far too many people already suffer from main character syndrome, and blaming the parents for...... Parenting..... Albeit demanding and strict parenting is a cop out. There's no indication of violence and abuse towards Pearl in her youth, the mother who rightfully asks for the help that is desperately needed in those times and understandably keeping her animal killing daughter under scrutiny isn't a recipe for emotionally volatile murderous rage. If anything, Pearl is the issue in pearls life, by pulling the modern move of blaming the parents and excessively focusing on self and ones delusions when the family is in need of help. Ultimately the overly self assured delusional desire of being a star directly leads to pearls emotional instability and choice of murderous rage.........

[@LilithsCosmicLounge]

I completely agree!! I feel bad for her Mother. I also think her Mom kept her isolated for a reason. If she seen her abuse animals how could she allow her to have contact with other children? Also she had a whole farm to run with a husband who was injured. I kind of wish Pearl’s Mom left that farm. Abandon her daughter and husband. Look at how she was treated in the end!! Her Mom did the best she could with the horrible cards she was dealt. For some reason ppl think her death was deserved.

[@wiimusic5671]

k

[@jonathanmulondo9206]

Even though the X trilogy takes place between the 70s and 80s, I feel like it's a deconstruction of today's influencer or fame seeker culture. Ti West and Mia Goth did an excellent job on this film trilogy

[@reiri5764]

18:12 "The fact that they rely so much on recreating the atmosphere that they failed to establish their own identity and be more memorable." SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN MISSING AS TO WHY MAXINE DIDN'T STICK TO ME AS MUCH AS PEARL DID! Plus that's why I am not moved since I really am not much into older slasher films. Also I like it that we both have the same view on Maxine's character. To me that survivor part of her is the reason why she is half rightful to say that, "They can save themselves. I did." I still don't think those girls deserve to die though, they're all very nice.

[@syntheticsilkwood2206]

I was literally checking your channel all day to see if you have uploaded or not and here's anew video Luck is on my side today lol

[@Sabiliwisely8315]

Missed opportunity not to titled it " Pearl x MaXXXine"

[@Blame-Me-Mitski]

i love your video's because your voice is so calming and easy to listen to ❤

[@MeganN1543]

She should also do the Substance!!!

[@gothsgod]

holy shit that was beautiful 😫

[@charlottelpn4613]

i actually loved maxxxine, it had a complete different vibe the x trilogy was fire

[@brynniefresh9746]

i wonder if pearl hates brittany snow’s character because she’s blonde like mitsy? she might remind her of mitsy so she assumes they’re similar…they kind of are tbh like they’re both very nice until pearl reveals herself as an asshole/psycho and then they are a little more mean or avoidant. on another note, i don’t really know many movies from the 70’s and 80’s that are slasher movies like X, so i understood that they were referencing slasher movies but i wasn’t distracted by it…i felt it had a very unique tone that was both self aware about how goofy some stuff was and also a very unsettling feeling when watching a lot of stuff…it’s definitely a strange movie and it’s not the best one ever or anything but it’s very enjoyable for me to watch, especially the first half before everyone dies lol

[@VenusianLissette]

this was excellent, super concise :) thanks !

[@itslemone]

I agree that Pearl works better as standalone film. It's incredibly well-done but the little gaps left if you go into it with X in mind feels a bit unsatisfying. Additionally, I'd like to highlight Pearl vs. Maxine interpretation of a being a star. Maxine sees it as something to strive for, in order to deserve it. It's a gateway to self-actualization, she has to mold herself to be a star. Pearl sees it as something she is entitled to. She interprets her dreams as taken as opposed to un-realized like being a star is a birthright. She is delusional. She doesn't want to be a dancer, she wants to be on a pedestal.

[@domeatown]

Oh my god why did I think this was about justpearlythings. ... I'm realizing now that part of Mia Goth's strength is that she has that Mormon, justpearlythings look. You should do a segment on Hannah Davis. Why is she like that. You probably already did because she's like the worst and your whole wheelhouse is heroes and villains. But if you didn't, I would absolutely love to watch it

[@antiheroines-you-love]

I don't see justpearlythings look on Mia Goth😭

[@domeatown]

@@antiheroines-you-love it's the Mormon, blonde, smile is overly large thang

[@domeatown]

@@antiheroines-you-love it's that terrified, too many teeth in that smile look. Fortunately, it's just a look. One is a literal god and one just does grifts and podcasts for a living

[@evanharris4347]

I feel like without Mia Goth we wouldn’t love these movies nearly as much and I think that speaks volumes about Mia Goth as an amazing actress. I loved all three of these movies but the story is a little empty when you really look at it and Goth finds a way to make it captivating. I’m starting to realize that Ti West’s work always seems a little bit lazy but his actor really just do an amazing job.

[@ripedevilfruit]

Loved this video! would like to hear your thoughts on smile 1 & 2 since they both have women as the lead. Smile 2 also deals with fame so it made me think a bit about maxxxine. edit: just realized i typed scream instead of smile so fixed that lol oops

[@DanaJaneWriter]

You're wrong. "Pearl" is a masterpiece

[@voidpinktriangle]

Wow!!! I was not expecting you to cover the X trilogy! Im so happy you did as it does align well with the other deep dives in your channel. I think the best movie out of the 3 is X, the script on that one seemed it was given the right time to really figure out its story beats. Everything in that movie snaps together so well, the film references that are woven into it, are used so cleverly and so organically, to show not tell, the audience what are the themes and the story of the movie are. Pearl and Maxxxine as movies, I don't believe live up to be as good as X because how fast both where made. Pearl manages to be okey because is a backstory to X. By itself I think is very undercooked, which you can ignore because of the main character being so captivating and the style so hypnotic. Maxxxine was a big stylish, shallow mess. I learn that Sam Levinson is also woven into the production of all 3 movies, which honestly makes me distrust Ty West as a director now. (Sam Levinson is the creator of the TV show Euphoria) I believe both Sam and Ty seem to have a the same mindset when it comes to filmmaking, where constantly "referencing great art, just must leads to more great art, right?" ... Well no, it dosent. And showing off how much you know about cinema, dosent mean you're a great storyteller either. So I personally ignore Maxxxine, I pretend it never happen. X is amazing. I love Pearl (movie) and Pearl the character so much because deep down her struggle is so human and so relevant, even if her story is set 100 years in the past.

[@antiheroines-you-love]

I also felt the same about X, after watching all three, it's the only movie that looks put together. I think the other two definitely make you appreciate X more on rewatch. Pearl does feel a bit sloppy. I knew about Sam Levinson being involved as a producer, but I'm not sure how deep his involvement was. Some of the sex stuff in X could have been removed...just to have more time for other story and character developments.

[@jaquinrice7923]

​@antiheroines-you-love my ratings: X-9/10, Pearl-7/10, and MaXXXine-5/10. I thought X was by far the best film in this trilogy. It's too nuanced and ambiguous to ignore. I know people hate this terminology, but X was truly an elevated slasher to the fullest. I love how it brings the slasher genre full circle. Since Carpenter's halloween, the rules in slasher films were that you are murdered for being horny and in X, you murder because you're too horny. I thought it was a brilliant subversion of the genre. The movie also has this existential feel to it that's extremely effective. The foreshadowing of death was an amazing touch of detail that added great suspense and character development. I love how you don't know who the true final girl is till the last 10 minuets of the film. It's themes of ageism and sexual liberation through capitalism are super rich and well written. The characters make smart decisions, and using porn as an element for the plot instead of showing unnecessary nudity for shock value was also a refreshing direction for a slasher to go. MaXXXine was easily the weakest. Maxine didn't have much to do. Her character motivations made no sense. There are a lot of things she gets aways with in the movie that are not plausible at all. There was no character development whatsoever, and the reveal was not only super predictable, but it ruined the menacing nuance that X had created up until that point. The ending is not only rushed but is filled with a giant plot hole. It just felt like Ti didn't know how to properly wrap up the trilogy. 😊💯

[@eyeromnium]

EVERYONE SHUT UP NEW ANTIHEROINES VIDEO JUST DROPPED

[@sonkey7128]

I appreciate your videos

[@ManuL.13]

I feel like there´s a big hole in the plot, how tf did Howard reacted when finding out what she had done? Why did he stay? Was he a murderer too?

[@VDirn]

maybe he couldn't have choice tò stay with her

[@starstorm1267]

He did serve in war, so technically he is a murderer I guess. But that’s because he was fighting in war. He probably stayed out of fear that Pearl would kill him if he tried to leave. That what she did to the projector after all (think he was called that)

[@ManuL.13]

@@starstorm1267 we see in X that their relationship had a pretty weird dynamic

[@JOTennisVid]

@@starstorm1267 He also chose to go to War even though his parents had gotten him a pass to not go. His sister says it's to stick it to their dad but that's from her perspective, I personally believe he was off himself beforehand because how could he have not seen Pearl's true self before they got married? She is believed to have been killing animals for a long time, He probably accepts her madness even easier after returning tbh since he covers for her and engages in it himself. He even leaves to fight in World War 2 which tells me ptsd after world war 1 where? Let me go on another killing spree, and it's killing nazi's for his coun try so his part of being unhinged actually gets him to be seen as a hero who faught in both WW. Him leaving pearl a second time during ww2 is surprising but interesting tho, I wonder what she thought of that decision and what it was like for her during that period. There is a lot of story that could have come from this entire thing.

[@syntheticsilkwood2206]

Idk if you've seen strange darling or not but its probably the best horror movie we have this year (still waiting for the substance though) I LOVED that movie trust me you'll have no idea where the movie is going please go in blind And I would like to watch your thoughts on it and especially the female character whom I loved so much and also the male character was actually really well written in a different way from most surface level and samey type of men we see on screen

[@antiheroines-you-love]

I'm very behind on new cinema, seen The Substance trailer, looks very interesting. I will check out Strange Darling, thank you for the suggestion

[@antojames9387]

Need the character analysis of Isabella Huppert in the film "Elle" (2016).

[@GoddesssofMind]

Lovely review I really enjoyed Mia Performance. Very talented woman

[@randycoleman9654]

Yaaass Maxine pearl analysis

[@0Hammerhead0]

This is a GREAT video essay except for the categorization of Maxine as a drug addict. She's got a big stash in the 3rd movie, but we only see her do 1 bump and 1 celebratory line. Nothing seems to hinge on it and we don't see her relying on it in times for stress. I'm somewhat inclined to believe she does LESS coke than she did in her 20s

[@antiheroines-you-love]

Hmm, interesting take on the drug problem, I'm sure didn't see it this way. I still think it's not easy to just drop it. The ending didn't make me feel happy for Maxine ...you just want to hug her.

[@alexandragabitto2573]

While I respect your opinion, I think it’s important to point out that ‘Maxxxine’ is specifically about Mia Goth and HER story as an actress (and subsequently the story of Ti West, the director.) While it does comment on the roles women are relegated to in the horror genre, there’s a ton of evidence that points to more throughout the film that makes it stand out next to a movie like ‘The Cabin the Woods.’ For example, not a lot of people know that Ti West’s actual rise to fame was as a side character in the 2011 horror film ‘You’re Next.’ Said character is not only killed off first, but is an aspiring filmmaker who is ridiculed by the brother of his girlfriend (he insults him by implying that the only reason he’s dating his sister is because of her wealth since his career is mediocre.) The heroine of ‘You’re Next’ is Australian like the lead actress who Maxine replaces in ‘Maxxxine.’ …I also wanted to say that the fact that Maxine has dyed her hair blonde by the time the events in ‘Maxxxine’ take place is important since Mitzi is chosen over Pearl due to the fact that she’s blonde lol 😂😂😂

[@rosegirl3220]

She kind of looks like Kacey Spacek in that thumbnail

[@frankenfairy]

Mia truly is our generation's Shelley Duvall ❤

[@Chrisdoesntlikenoisecore]

They’re all so good I can hardly pick my favorite 😭but I think it’s maXXXine

[@honeymoon2766]

That’s crazy. Maxine was my favorite one

[@brynniefresh9746]

i feel the same way about pearl’s monologue in her movie…everyone loves it but i find it unnecessary apart from giving us some more information about how she married howard and thought she’d leave the farm, and she was pregnant but lost the baby and hated the thought of having a child which makes sense…it just felt like she was saying a lot more than what needed to be said, unless it was for the people who hadn’t seen the original? idk

[@sebastianhenao9365]

I really liked MaXXXine, but disliked maxine's like empityness, For some scenes, like when she told Leon thay she got the part on the puritan, a much more joyfull and cheerfull maxine would have been better, instead of how she really was,. or where she watches the farmer's daughter, maybe a more paranoic and anxious reaction would have been better than how she really acted, with this changes, Her friend leon would have been a different character, when she told him the good news, leon would have been more happy and proud of her friend, instead of both of them sounding like if it didn't really cared, in the XXX vhs the farmers daugther, with maxine's paranoic reaction, a more caring leon would have been shown.

[@VDirn]

i noticed that all relationships in maxxxine were kinda cold and detached. maybe to give the idea that Hollywood Is an empty sept

[@panchodelocho9503]

Maxxxine supremacy

[@ozportelanogueira6198]

live laugh love your videos

[@traceydenim]

hello :) i love your channel so much! been a fan ever since i watched the tori amos documentary. i don't know if you're going to see this but i wanted to ask you what editor do you use? i want to start making videos about music and stuff, but i have no idea which one is the best one. loved this vid btw

[@ohw5306]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@AdaAlicjaKulacz]

YOU NEED TO MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT AMY WINEHOUSE

[@crystalfelicia9924]

It's amazing how similar you both sound. What part of England are you from?

[@the_agate_gate3782]

She’s textbook BPD.

[@Monicalia]

No she is not, stop with that nonsense.

[@tidal1996-om6oz]

Would you ever make a video explaining how you make your video essays? I have some topics I really want to cover in this format but I know NOTHING about it.

[@ShawnaBuchanan-y2e]

I feel that if I have Turner syndrome I shouldn't be on the stage and I should be a star in my own life.

[@m00ngirl888]

autonomy > fame !!!!

[@WickedMo13]

Isn’t she getting sued for physically abusing the extras on this film?

[@Sofiaode18]

Who

[@WickedMo13]

@@Sofiaode18 lol one guess

[@kelpie2851]

I'm disappointed by this video essay not because of your opinions, but because of how short it is. There's so much more to say about these films

[@BryceChillis]

maxxxine is awesome, great end to the trilogy

[@77buyer]

she update the intro :0

[@bzztthundaa]

🌟

[@DSh1105]

How did you make your intro and the tumbnail, I really like how they look! What app did you use?

[@lanie.999]

Can you do I believe in unicorns.

[@panchodelocho9503]

Wheres the 4th movie??

[@nellievaughn7755]

I was so bored by MaXXXine, that I had to turn it off after the first twenty minutes.

[@antiheroines-you-love]

Yeah, I also felt it was the most boring one out of 3

[@CamiDL29-mh1xx]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-mg4kn7vv6t]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Whattt_333]

pleeeeeasee make a video about lana del rey!!

[@Lawlllz]

Maxxxine was such a letdown.

[@microwavedmetal]

Both movies are about people who get swept up in the desire for fame. It’s not supposed to develop, it’s supposed to be a failed dream that drives them mad. Not even you got the damn movies…💀

[@truthhurts-g3o]

...and not everyone can act. The most mind insulting trilogy in the history of cinema? Absolutely. And that acting...bring me a barf bag...quick smart!

[@77buyer]

new video in four weeks??

[@chandraturaga5584]

Ngl, you could've shat some more on these films. They don't deserve the praise you give them at times.

[@arinolagrenade7443]

Girl great video BUT MY EAR 😭

[@yumi_vampster]

2nd comment

[@NickCharles-v2p]

Mia Goth is my current favorite actress. Infinity Pool is also a badass film.

[@igirlcupid]

your videi ie veeeery cool, but lacks some interpretation at some obvious points...

[@mariaaaa1128]

I just want to say thank u for ur in depth video essays, my favorite of urs is white oleander! Do u have insta?